Nintendo Wii Causes Repetitive Motion Injuries

I found a very interesting article about my favorite gaming console, the Nintendo Wii. It seems that excessive Wii playing can cause repetitive motion injuries. Surprising? Not really.

When I first started playing the Wii, I found myself quite addicted to the bowling game. It was a really fun game to play with my friends and even by myself. I could spend more than an hour at a time perfecting my throw. Once I even bowled a perfect 300! The key was keeping my technique consistent. Talk about repetitive motion! I would wake up the next day with a sore elbow, wrist, and shoulder. Just like real bowling right? Well, not exactly.

You see, when people play real sports there is typically a warm up involved followed by a variety of physical exertion and some kind of time limitation. With the Wii, you can play for hours at a time and body motions are less varied since you are playing in a small space in front of your television set, and does anyone stretch or warm up before playing a video game? I certainly don't. The availability and easy use of the Wii is also key since there is no need to round up other people to play with and weather delays are virtually non existent.

While the Wii's encouragement of physical activity is positive, the increase of these repetitive motion injuries is certainly the downside. Common injuries include tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, back and knee pain, and shoulder and elbow strains. Lucky for all those Wii players, massage therapy is a great solution for these kinds of problems. A good massage therapist can relax the muscles and release nerve entrapments associated with repetitive motion injuries. A reduction in pain and other symptoms can result, allowing the Wii player to play another day. Hooray!

Read this article in its entirety at www.integrative-healthcare.org

Wii players come see us for a massage...

Jenni Curtis, LMT 801*879*4173

Eileen Keiser, LMT 801*574*1325

The Amazing Body Worlds Exhibit

As a student of massage therapy, I had the opportunity to study the human body in great detail. With each discovery, I learned how unique and miraculous our bodies truly are. Each piece is a part of a symphony contributing to the beautiful harmony that is the living soul.

For many of us, the way our body functions is a mystery and with that mystery can lurk fear. I remember being afraid to go to my Anatomy class's cadaver lab because I knew I'd be seeing real human body parts and the idea was unnerving. Once I got there, I realized that my fears were largely unfounded and surrendered myself to the fascination that came with each new learning experience. Our bodies are these organic machines with so many layers and yet, we are simply animals in the end.

The Body Worlds exhibit takes the cadaver lab to a whole new level! They have transformed these donated bodies into complete works of art. I am so happy I had the chance to see it while it was here in Salt Lake City. I was able to walk around each display with wide eyes taking in a 360 degree view of muscles, bones, tendons, and organs. It was breathtaking!

The concept behind Body Worlds are the innovations of Gunther von Hagens who developed the process of plastination. He was able to preserve, dissect, and position the bodies for the purpose of education and appreciation. Each exhibit demonstrates different aspects, functions, and layers of the human body, all displayed with beauty and grace. Beyond the fully intact plastinates, there are countless glass cases showing various organs, some healthy, some diseased, some containing artificial additions depicting our modern technology at work. I was particularly impressed by the "smoker's lung," which was completely black. Appropriately there was a nearby station where smokers could dispose of their cigarettes and pledge to quit the habit right there on the spot. Also shown was a cross-section of an obese individual. You'd be surprised to know all the places where the body stashes extra fat. Great motivation to eat healthy and exercise.

The other exhibits that stood out to me were of the blood vessels. Plastic was injected into the arteries and then allowed to harden. After that all the rest of the matter was removed showing only the countless intricate vessels where the blood travels taking the fragile form of that particular living thing. This was done with organs, limbs, and even animals. It's hard to comprehend the sheer number of blood vessels present in any given specimen. Wow!

Since attending Body Worlds, I have found new perspective when working on the clients who come to see me for massage. I can better visualize the muscles I am addressing and I am constantly going back in my mind to the wonderful exposition of bodies frozen in motion depicting the exquisiteness of the human form. I am reminded of how much I love my work and the ability to help people to realize their potentials. I encourage people who have yet to see the Body Worlds exhibit to make it a point to go and see it. You too will be amazed!

BodyWorlds.com

Invest in YOU!

It's no secret that committing to regular bodywork is wonderful for your health. Consistent massage is a good way to prevent those problem areas from flaring up and injuries from occurring in the first place. Frequent massage will give you a general sense of well-being and facilitate a better awareness of your body which will help you to achieve your maximum physical and mental potential.

So what's stopping us? Many people find that when they aren't in the habit of doing something, it's easy to put it off. We can always find some excuse whether it be time constraints or budgeting issues. But how much time and money do we waste doing frivolous things that don't give us any long-term benefits in return? Not only is getting a massage good for you, but it's also very enjoyable! You have that time to escape into a world where stress can't reach you and get up feeling relaxed and better balanced. So what can you do to make this a reality for yourself?

Make a commitment and invest in yourself. Here is an investment that will always be good and always pay off. You'll never regret spending the money and time on something that is not only good for you, but feels good too. Nothing guilty about this pleasure!

I'd like to help you acheive your goals for the new year by offering 10% off all of my packages in January.* By giving you more for your money, I hope to really maximize this investment for you. Not only will you be locking in your price and avoid waiting for the "next special" but you'll also be adding to the convenience of your massage regimen. No need to put it off because it's already paid for. If you'd like, you can even book all your appointments in advance. After that, just show up and enjoy the experience. It's that simple.

So let's do the math...

5/1 hour massages, regularly $275 now $247.50 or $49.50 per massage

10/1 hour massages, regularly $500 now $450 or $45 per massage

5/90 minute massages, regularly $400 now $360 or $72 per massage

10/90 minute massages, regularly $750 now $675 or $67.50 per massage

5/2 hour massages, regularly $525 now $472.50 or $94.50 per massage

10/2 hour massages, regularly $1000 now $900 or $90 per massage

It is important to note that I will allow you to use these 2 or 1/2 at a time to add to the flexibility of possible massage times as you redeem your pre-paid package. Yes I do accept all major credit cards!

*Special offered by Jenni Curtis, LMT (801) 879-4173

A New Team Member!

The time has come to say goodbye to Tiffeny Salzetti, my business partner and friend of the past 3 years. I wish her all the best as she starts her practice anew in Boise, Idaho. I encourage anyone looking for a massage there to go and see her in her lovely new location. Her new website is QualityMassageIdaho Tiffeny, we will miss you!

So where does that leave Salt Lake's Premiere Massage Therapy Team™? I am excited to announce our newest addition, Eileen Keiser, LMT who is also committed to providing only the highest quality of massage therapy to our guests. You'll find that members of our Team are still down-to-earth, have positive attitudes, and a passion for our work. We genuinely care about your health and well-being and will work hard to earn your business while providing straight forward good bodywork.

To encourage everyone to give her a try, Eileen has chosen to add a little incentive to sweeten the pot a bit. For the entire month of January, her first time client discount will be doubled! That means $20 off every appointment! Get a one hour massage for only $40! Not a bad deal, eh? Give her a call at 801*574*1325